Today has been a little slow off the mark. Whilst I have done what I need to retain membership of civilised society, I have felt lacking in focus and generally lacklustre.
I noticed that I was a little kinder to myself in this situation that I normally am. Today it was ok to move more slowly, to potter, to start a task and not finish it and to amble through the day without real focus. It was ok.
There is a time and season for everything under the sun and today it was the time for indolence and pandering to the craving for creature comforts.
At times like these, to nurture and nourish is the order of the day.
Comfy clothes with no cinching at the waist.
A few minutes sitting on the step with the sun on my face.
Clean sheets on the bed.
Quiet time lounging with my dog.
A few gentle stretches.
A hot cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit.
A gentle potter in the kitchen with the easiest recipe in the world. As well as the most divine and cosy smell throughout the house, this endeavour delivered a delicious ‘Lockdown Loaf’. A beer bread dough, dotted with red onion and paprika, sprinkled with cheese and sloshed with olive oil before baking until golden.
A thick slice, warm and slathered with butter and a thin slice of cheese was as satisfying as a bear hug.
An afternoon idled away with a classic book. I am reading ‘The Bell Jar’ by Sylvia Plath. It is not a happy read, but that’s ok too on a day like today. Like a sad song, it resonates with me better than anything upbeat would do. Feeling a little melancholy is a fitting match to my current state of lethargy.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring? It may be that I need to take a gentle approach as I have today, or it may be a day of industrious energy.
Whatever the day delivers, I will be listening to my inner self and making sure that even though there will invariably be must-do activities, my mood and energy will inform how I go about these.
Quietly Quaintrelle 